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Toleration and Its Possibilities: Relativism, Skepticism, and Pluralism

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The Palgrave Handbook of Toleration

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Abstract

Does a situation of “relativism,” wherein we lack the normative resources to make categorical distinctions and objective evaluations between competing moral values, practices, or ways of life, affirm or undermine our capacity to engage in toleration? The following chapter seeks to address this question but, in order to do so, finds it necessary to compare the position of “relativism,” in this respect, with that of “pluralism,” “skepticism,” and “indifference.” Relativism, pluralism, and skepticism are widely perceived by many as indelible features of our moral universe. But do they inevitably produce a situation in which toleration is endorsed as the preferred means to respond to competing and conflicting beliefs, practices, or ways of life? Or do they undermine any prescriptive capacity we might have to place a priority on toleration in such circumstances, perhaps even precluding the possibility of engaging in toleration altogether?

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Discipline of Politics and International Relations, Newcastle Business School, College of Human and Social Futures, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia

    John William Tate

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  1. John William Tate
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Correspondence to John William Tate .

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  1. Educational Res Inst, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Mitja Sardoč

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  1. Educational Research Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Mitja Sardoč

  2. Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Mitja Sardoč

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Tate, J.W. (2021). Toleration and Its Possibilities: Relativism, Skepticism, and Pluralism. In: Sardoč, M. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Toleration. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03227-2_2-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03227-2_2-2

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-03227-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-03227-2

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Toleration and Its Possibilities: Relativism, Skepticism, and Pluralism
    Published:
    16 June 2021

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03227-2_2-2

  2. Original

    Toleration and its Possibilities: Relativism, Skepticism and Pluralism
    Published:
    07 November 2020

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03227-2_2-1

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